Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Hello everyone, welcome to another episode of Good Hang. We just have such a pro. We have the queen. We have just the hilarious, incredible, inspiring Julia Louis-Dreyfus joining us today. And we talked to Julia about so many fun, good things. We talk about season four of her podcast, Wiser than me. We're going to talk about her Emmy domination and how she just beat me year after year. We're talking about how many photos we have on our phone and spoiler alert. I have more. And you're going to hear her reject my idea that she is LeBron James of television. So great episode coming up. But before we start, we always like to check in with someone who knows our guest, who has a question to give me to ask our guest. And we have an incredible, sweet, super talented, hilarious, Tony Hale joining us. Tony, who you might know from a rest of development, Buster Bluth, what a character. He played Gary on Veeb, incredible character. He is the voice of fear and inside out to incredible character. We love Tony. And let's check in and see if we can hear him from his incredible studio, Tony. This episode of Good Hang is presented by Walmart Express delivery, getting gifts to your doorstep and as fast as an hour. Who needs elves when Walmart Express delivery can make Nespresso machines magically appear on your doorstep? And if you do happen to forget something, no judgment. You can even order gifts up until 5 p.m. on December 24th. Santa, you might want to take notes. Download the Walmart app or head to Walmart.com and get your gifts delivered fast. Subject to availability, terms and fees apply. Are you in a booth in a recording booth? Okay. This is a little booth I made in my house. And if I really showed it to you, you'd be like, oh, that's sad. Tony needs help. First of all, everyone now, you're, you're nobody if you don't have a booth in your house. Really? I'm ahead of the game. This is like feels like a COVID thing. You just you build a wall and you make it sound proof and you start a podcast. I'm proof-ish. If I really showed it to you, go, oh, I get it now. That's a, that's a reason the witness protection program. Oh, it's so good to see you. We first met on the set of arrested development back in whatever that was. Yeah. Actually, was that I think was that the first time? I think we might have first met when Martell was on SNL because my wife was a makeup artist on SNL. And I think, but I was, I was just the guy next to her that was like, oh, I'm not going to say anything to Amy. No, no. And so I don't know if we actually met, but I just kind of probably stared at all you guys. Yeah, you're very talented wife. Martell was a makeup artist during my years at SNL. And then we got to know each other on the set of arrested. And I mean, Buster Blues, what we'd let we need a movie about what's on going on in his head. Yeah, there was a lot going on in his head. And, and he could barely get the pharmacy. But he just hit, oh, man, there's somebody who was asking me the other day about just the codependency. You know, that's in that show between me and Lucio Bluth, who was played, you know, wonderfully by Jessica Walter. And there is a scene in there, which so is such a beautiful picture of the codependency where she's on house arrest. And she can't smoke. And so she tells me she goes Buster, come here, come here. And she says she makes me inhale the smoke out of her mouth as she smokes. And then blow it out in the balcony. And then she takes another drag and then blows it into my mouth. And I've got an exhale in the balcony. I was like, just like a baby bird getting a worm out of his mouth. And I was like, if that's not a picture of dysfunction, that, I mean, that is crazy. Well, to me, that's a picture of a loving son taking care of their mother. You know what, Amy, I think this is a side conversation. That's what a son should do for its mother. Absolutely right. My mother would agree. You have created such great codependent dysfunctional relationships in the work that you do. Because Lucille and Buster, I mean, is and then the relationship you and Julia have on VEEP is. How when you explain your relationship to Selena in that, like, how do you relate? How do you, how do you sum up the relationship you guys have together on the show, your characters? I worship. She was Jesus to me. I was, I don't even think I, I mean, I, she literally called me a bitchy mime on the show because she didn't really want me to speak. So she had, she gave me no value, but I just had these crazy rose colored glasses and just, I never heard it. I just heard poetry when she was screaming at me. So it was just, and she knew it. She knew it and she abused it. It looked like you two had an incredible working relationship. Like, it just looked like you loved working together. We really did. And she, the one thing, I mean, you did the same thing on, on parks and rec, but it's, you, whoever is number one on the call sheet, which means whoever's the star of the show, they typically set the tone of the experience. And sometimes unfortunately, that's, I haven't had this experience, but you know, sometimes it's like, everybody's walking an egg shells and there's a lot of ego and entitlement, which just sucks creative energy out of a space. And it's just not a gift to anybody. And then sometimes you have like you or Julia, where you walk in and it's just, it's, it's open. We're all in the same team. There's a kindness. There's a respect. And let me tell you right now, it is a gift for the next seven years. Yeah, that show of what she gave us. And we just loved her and we just became friends. I mean, she's also work is not her number one priority. Her family is she is a life outside of it. And I know just the humanity of Julia was really just awesome, awesome to be around. Yeah. And you know, you, I think you, because you're a deep thinking person, two deep, two deep. Some people say two deep. So that's the rumor. Tony Hill, two deep. Damn it. That should be the name of my part. Two deep, two deep to what would be the book? It would be Tony Hill. Or somebody's or I'm talking to somebody and they start saying something I go, not deep enough. You got like, go deeper, go deeper. Actually, go deeper, go deeper, go deeper. But now if I'm like, bye bye, go deeper. And then in its go deeper, comma, get back up to the surface. You've gone too deep. Way too deep. So I ask my zoom guests to give me a question to ask my guest. And I'm wondering if you have a question big, small, deep, not deep for Julia that you think would be appropriate. One thing that I always love to witness with Julia was her relationship with her mom. She really loves and respects her mom. And I, I've, we never really talked about, we talked about our mom a lot, but never really talked about much her growing up. And I'm growing up what she remembers kind of how her mom cultivated that foundation. You know, because it's such a cool thing to watch now. And I'm like, oh, wow, like, what did your mom do right? You know, yeah, that's a great question. What did your mom do? Right? That's actually a, I think that's kind of that's kind of like the theme of your 50s and 60s. Because you're, listen, I love to generalize. So I apologize in advance. But if your 20s and 30s are like, who am I not? And I don't want to do this. And like what didn't go right? Then as you get older, you start to realize what else? What, what did I, what the people who raised me? What did they, you know, they're doing the best they can? What did they do? Right? Yeah, yeah, yeah. And you can, you can really see it with the fruit of that with her, with her relationship. And you know, both you and I are parents and I want, I want that kind of longevity that she has with her mom. Man, what an awesome gift. Yeah. You're so right about the 50s kind of having eyes to see things, which is such a gift. That's, that's too deep. That's that we wouldn't be. We've gone to, yeah, that's the second week of two deep, which is my favorite dessert is Q on five. Thank God. Let's get back up to the surface. You know what? I mean, I'm not trying to change lives here. Tony, you know what I mean? Like we're trying to have a laugh. This is a good hang. So sorry. Look, I took you down. I put the weights on our ankles and I brought us down. I was about to go into like dessert. The sugar does hurt my stomach, but I do. I want to keep it up. I'm not going to say anymore. So also maybe if I follow up the, maybe if I asked Julia the question about her mom, I should follow up with what your favorite kind of pie. I will say what's her favorite dessert? I want to say I think it might be a really good chocolate cake, but I don't know if that's true. Well, I feel like I would trust you knowing everything about Julia after Veeb. Yeah, I didn't know anything about politics on that show, but I knew what designer she was wearing. I knew what jewelry she was wearing. I knew who just had an affair that she was talking to. I knew all that stuff. You kept tampons in your bag just in case. Different colors. Several. That's a real man. Thank you. That's a real man. Thank you. Why they haven't put me in a Marvel movie? The guy that's tampons it is back. Me, me, me. I got I got I got I got I got I'm I'm I'm I'm anti bacterial wipes too. Well, I feel like you should be in a Marvel movie. And also you're in toy story. Toy Story 5 is coming out and you're in that. There are five's coming out forky sweet little forky man for key was the best. That's got so great. Yeah, for kids a lot of questions. And what's his what's for keys game like what's what's going on with forky? Never again too deep again. Yeah, we go going down. You're like for keys like why are we here? Forkies like why we're here, but also the fact that he like came into the world being like, I'm trash. I'm just trash. And what he's like, no, you're more than trash. You're you're made for a purpose. Come on. That makes our man that picks our man just get you. Just get they just get you every time. So I think that'll come out this summer and this this this this theme of this one is toys against tech, which I think is a really cool. That's that's very cool. Well, I am as long as as long as you guys don't come after my phone. Come on. You can say all you want about tech, but my phone is my best friend. So what if when the movie comes out like the SWAT team just goes to your house and good Amy? Give me your phone. Whatever the very tech just wins. It's like, yeah, no more choice. Amy is really a spokesperson for AI when everyone's concerned big time. AI, we need AI. Okay. She's the ambassador. AI's ambassador polar. Tony, I love you. See you later. Bye. This episode was brought to you by visible. When your phone's plans as good as visible, you've got to tell your people. It's the ultimate wireless hack to save money and still get great coverage and a reliable connection. Get one line wireless with unlimited data and hotspot for $25 a month. Taxes and fees included all unverisons 5G network. Plus now for a limited time, new members can get the visible plan for just $19 a month for the first 26 months. Use promo code SWITCH26 and save beyond the season. It's a deal so good you're going to want to tell your people. SWITCH now at visible.com. Terms apply limited time offer subject to change. See visible.com for planned features and network management details. Julia Louis-Dreyfes is here and we've started our interview by comparing how many photos we have in our phone. I would call it a competition if you don't mind. Well, I want to talk about this because what I like about you is you like to win. I do like to win. I know. I love that about you. Let's let's reveal the numbers of photos we have on our phone. I'll go first. Go ahead. 82,000. Oh, shit. That's not winning or losing. Is it winning or losing that I have 82,000 photos on my phone? Wait, you made it to round number like that. I know it's 82,014. 82,014. What do you have? I'm 56,276. Chop, chop. You ain't me, Polar. Now, you know what it means is that we have not asked a young person to plug in our phone and to transfer our photos somewhere else. But I want to have them on my phone. Me too. There you go. But we should be downloading them somewhere else, right? Don't they do that automatically in the cloud? I'm literally the last person to ask. Somebody call Bill Gates. We can get them on the phone because now when I get a new iPhone, I hand it to my 17 year old child and I go fix it. Do it. I guess I don't even know how to do it. You don't know how to do it. I don't know how to do it either. But this is making me anxious. I need to take these all off of you. I want there's certain pictures I want to have. Agree. But and let me ask the Gen Z years in the room. Do you guys take your photos off your phone at some point? Never. Never. See, we're young and hip all of a sudden. Okay, we're really sounding old though because I feel the same way like I sweat technology makes me sweat. That's right, mother. It does. Yes, mother. Yes, mother. Yes. Speaking, are you comfy by the way? You need anything. Okay, great. Oh, let's turn off that phone. Hold on. Julius phone is ding. Did you get another picture? Did you get another picture sent to you? I'm up to 56,600. Okay, by the way, my phone is also on. Oh, hang on, I just want to fix it. Okay, anyway, now it's now it's it's silenced. Okay. Yes. I want to start by asking you about podcasting because we're both podcasting now. I know. I didn't really ask a lot of people for advice before I started this podcast and you should have called me by the way. I know I didn't ask any man because I tried not to ask man for advice. Smart. But what what do you think makes a good interview? You've done great interviews now. You've done many of them. What if what do you think makes a good one? Well, I mean, it sort of. Depends on what the the concedus for what the conversation is going to be. You've done this right because good hang lets you know exactly what it's going to be. We could be talking about the photos on my phone for the next 45 minutes. That's right. You probably will. And we might and that's like that is dynamite because that's there's an ease to that. Unfortunately for me. You've made it hard because you love hard work. Well, I don't know about that, but I have made it. I mean, it's definitely rewarding, but it does. I'm talking to older women about the wisdom they have acquired in their life. And would they share it with us? So that requires me to do a lot of research. I really need to come to the table understanding who these people are and how to have an authentic conversation that isn't just you know, your normal. Fuck around. Yeah, or plug your this that in the other. And I it's why I love your show and I've told you that like I love the deep dive you do. I do feel like I get this very, you know, big picture perspective from the women and the lives that they've led. Oh, thanks. I'm going to glaze you for a while on this. This is what the kids call a glaze. I'm glazing you like a sugar thing. Yeah, so all about sugar. I'm like, I'm going to tell you how great you are. So buckle up. Okay. There's a word. There's another word that's out now that I can't put it is that I was going to respond. We know it went out of my head. And if we know it, it's out. There's no way. So glaze is not cool anymore. Of course it isn't. If I'm saying it. So now I have to say I'm dead. Yeah, exactly. I'm dead. Seriously, bet, bet Julia bet. But but you how much research do you do for your show? Like do you a lot, baby, Kate? Why do I work so hard? I don't know. I've got me out of it. Have you gotten the memo to work? Do you see how? How? Why are we working so hard? I don't know. Well, you say you're not working hard on getting to what you are. You have. Yeah, you are. Right? Is it she? Yes, everyone's shaking their head. You are. You're pretending like you're not to be cool, but you're working. Super hard. I got to tell you your, but it is, it's an indication. I think of a bigger thing that we all are used to doing, which is being a very good student. Like just like working hard. Yes, that's true. And has that been something you found in your life? Like you want to do well and be a good student, basically. I want to do well. Yeah. And also for me, the with this podcast, it was really born out of my own curiosity. In fact, I came to you and talked to you about this podcast. I know. I remember thinking this sounds hard. I know. She passed, ladies and gentlemen. What if we didn't like that's not like a lot of things that you do. That's what she said. Who is coming up that you're ex who of you, who of you interview that you can plug? Well, I can plug the following. I can plug Jane Curtain. Please, please. Let's talk about Jane for one second. Let's just sit here and think about Jane. Well, you know what? It was a really. First of all, obviously an honor to talk to her, but it was a great opportunity to go back and look at her work and particularly her work on SNL back in the day. Because of course, she was one of the original cast members. And to understand the effect, speaking for myself, that had on my life. Yeah. ginormous. Yes. ginormous. Totally. And, you know, I and I watched that first episode and Janice Ian is singing, I learned the truth at 17 and I was 14 watching the show when that premiered. And they these were my people. Yeah. And so same is true of Carol or not. Yeah. You know, you sort of don't to a certain extent these people that have these cultural icons who had proper influence. They get into your bloodstream without you're knowing it totally. And it's and it's you know, that thing that you have to see it to be it. It's not conscious. It's not like you say, Oh, there's a woman on there, but you just see people that's right. feeling this role and you just becomes part of your DNA that that could exist in your life in your world. Right. Yeah. So yeah, incredible. Yeah. Incredible. By the way, you may know this, but something I learned talking to Jane that was kind of extraordinary because you and I are familiar with the the schedule of SNL, which is grueling. Yeah. Jane was not hired as a writer and immediately she made the decision that she was not going to come to work on Monday and Tuesday. I swear to Christ. She's like, I'm not here to write. I'm here to perform. Let me know when you're paying me. You're paying me as an actor. I'll be here for the table read on Wednesday. Wow. And the great thing about that was she's a really good cold reader according to her. And so she'd nail it and then she'd be in sketches, but she was not doing that drug-filled all-nighter life. Wow. And I just that she had the sense to realize that she was protecting herself. FYI, she was married too. Yeah, she all Jane seemed like the reasonable cast member. She was. Yeah. I told this to Martin Short, Marty Short, when he was on the show, we were talking about the SNL 50th, which stirred up so much for everybody. I mean, it was. It was. That was a lot of. There were a lot of feelings in that studio. I know. I can speak for myself that parts of me really regressed like back to, you know, some version of what I was like when I was there. And also the young part of me was like star struck by the people who, you know, I grew up watching. And I, one of my tenders moments was I was talking to Lorraine Newman, who I don't know that well when I worship. Yes. And her and Jane got ready together. Yeah, they're like, and they got their hair and makeup together. Yeah. Before and it just made me feel so happy because I just wanted them to be friends forever. And they were. I know they are. And then they held up Guildess picture at the end. It was so touching. I know. Yeah. Julia, even though I consider you, you're, I, I consider you whether you'll accept this or not. I don't accept it. I know it. I don't. I'm not going to accept it. I'm just not. I'm going to say something good. Okay, go ahead. Big sister energy for me. Like really? I feel like in the same way you saw Jane, I was 11, 12 when you were on SNL and you were a baby. You were like 21 or something. So you were not that much older than me, but you were definitely a new woman on the show. And you know, I was always paying attention to who was new on the show. And you looked really young, which I loved because I was young and wanted a young person on the show. And I have to say like when I was getting preparing for this interview, there's a million ways that we can talk about all the million things that you've done in your career and your life and who you are as a person. And I've got to look at you to get to call you a friend. But you are like the LeBron James of TV. Yeah. I mean, I think, but I'm not going to. You're not accepting that. I'm not accepting that, man. Well, here's why I say that. You're not accepting. And I think that's smart to not accept it. Actually, I take it back. Yeah. Yeah. But no, but the, but you have been. You're pretty good. You're pretty good. It's fine. This is what this is. I'm going to stand the metaphor. And I'm just, I'm pleased that I came up with this from a sports perspective because, um, because you're such a sports. I'm such a sport. I mean, this is what this podcast is about. Yeah. Like, let's go deep into the draft into the draft and football. And let's get in there. The Kelsey. Let's go in there. Let's get deep in. Okay. No, but because you're LeBron, because you have one championships for more than one team, you're, you have been in huge legacy shows. More than once. Yeah. That's very unusual. It's very unusual and that's a lot of good luck, you know, really. And so, so great, but not really LeBron. Okay, okay, okay. But what is your, we started talking about winning. We were comparing photos. Yeah. What is your relationship to winning? Because I like that you like to win. Like I like, I like, like fun competitive women. Well, first of all, fun is all caps because, yes, because there's another kind of competitive woman. Totally, um, that we don't care for. That's right. The fun part has, it has to be like in good fun. Well, here, I'm going to tell you a story about you that I like so much. Okay. So, um, you and I have down a couple of times done bits around a ward show. And, and when we're competing against each other, that's right. So anyway, what I have found over the years is that it's very good to focus on what to do if you win or you lose. Mm hmm. And Amy Poler is very fun to come up with bits with love a bit. Love a bit. I don't know, ward show that because it used to be fun. It used to be like, I know goofy and how it's so serious. Yeah. And, and by the way, we took speeches seriously, but from a comic point of view, if you win for a comedic role, try to be funny when you give a speech or how about even if you win from a de-forge or mad at a role? How about that great idea? Turn it on the text. Flip it. Flip it. Anytime anybody does, they look like a genius. Genius. No, for real. You look like a genius. It's true. So we did a couple of them where we might I think my favorite one with you, but you tell me what's when we we pretended to switch acceptance speeches. My favorite. Oh, you went up there. Good. We gave each other a hug and then we pretended to like, oopsie, switch speeches and then you went up and you started thanking people from Parks and Rec. And then we had a moment of like, oh fuck. Yes. And the camera cut to me. And those were the years I have to say there were so many great women always in our category that came and went. Julia was always there because she always crushed us all every year. But and like people were really game to have fun. Yeah, completely. And I don't remember anything other than the fun times of those bits. Me too. I really I was always so grateful that you were because there were certain people that weren't down to do those bits and they won't be named. But we did try. We did. We tried to finagle some other people. And they didn't think they didn't want to do it. I know. I think some of them were nervous like genuinely nervous. Okay, fine. You can say that. But okay, I want to start though. I want to go back a little bit because I feel like we talked a little bit about this in person, but we we kind of had similar sketch Chicago beginnings. Yeah. Like we we were in a group. We were the only girl in the group. Yeah. And our group kind of moved to a new city to like make a start. And in your case, practical theater, practical theater company moved to SNL together. Yes. We were on TV from Northwestern. Yes. So what year was that 1982? And we were doing a show in Chicago that was a big hit in Chicago and and all the people in the show got hired. There were four of us. Yeah. Three of us were on SNL and the fourth person Paul Baross was hired as a writer. Yeah. And you all moved to New York and just started together. What was it like to have four or five of your closest friends to start that show with? Well, it was tricky. Yeah. Not because we didn't get along, but because we were a group of people who were met with a lot of animosity. Yeah. And by the by the people whose friends had just been fired. Right. Right. And if I can imagine it because I was myself the same way, there's like a pluckiness to a sketch group. Like a sketch group is like in-proven sketches like standup was cool. And in-proven sketch was kind of nerdy nerdy for sure. And you know, so it was like, Hey guys, we're here. And I'm sure everyone was like, OK. But no, but you're going to I don't know if you know, maybe you know this. But when they they had us at the first tape. Oh, God, I can't even. Oh, no, it was just so excruciating. There's this room. On the 17th floor with fluorescent lighting and, you know, folding tables. And that's where they do the table read. And in that same room, they had us, these new people coming in, do part of our show that we were doing in Chicago for the writers and cast. Oh, wow. Yeah. In fluorescent lighting. Oh, wow. And we came out to your point. Did. Did. Did. What? And it didn't lay on. It did not land. Yeah, even saying it, my armpits are going bananas right now. Oh, yeah. I've been there. So anyway, that's how it began. It was a terrible, inauspicious start. And you were there for a couple of years. Three. And you were there during a period of transition. I mean, Lauren was not there. Yeah, it was not there. Every song was there. What a strange window to pee there. Or maybe it was bad. Yeah, yeah. It was not great. It was not great. But fabulous learning experience. Yeah. Um, it was hard and it was a little crazy making, but I, I came away from it, sort of stronger. Yeah. And met Larry David, who you then worked with again on Seinfeld. And Seinfeld still similar kind of thing. Like didn't had an inauspicious start. Yeah, it was a four episode order. It was like they were just trying to sort of burn it out. It when I was doing research. Oh, look at you working hard. Very hard. You are the person I've worked the hardest for. Uh, that's total bullshit. But it is true. I've worked the hardest for Shilla. Yeah. Smart. Yeah. Smart. But, uh, no, but, but like Parks and Rick Seinfeld was always close to being cancelled. People weren't getting it. It was like, we don't know what we have here. No, we didn't. It was until the third year it started to take off. Yeah. And it was, it was a lane written as a man at first that character. No, it wasn't in four men. And then they changed it to a lane. I do. You don't know. No, I know. He's not a weirder. It's a good, you know what I mean. I'd like to over the next week. Wow. I think I'm tired. I've got a land was you were playing a lane as a man. Yes. No, correct. Well, wasn't the character they brought you in because they were like Julia and because they did a pilot. Yeah. And then apparently the network told them you have to put a girl in the show. There's a tape out there somewhere where there's another person in. No, not in there is not a regular man in the pilot. Correct. Wow. Yeah. It was a different time. And so they said, you know what? You need a girl. Yeah. And so so I came in and I've never watched the pilot of Seinfeld, by the way. And so why would I'm not in it? Why would I bother? And so you used to watch anything you said. That's right. That's right. What was the name of the show? You were in the way. So yeah. So that's what happened. So they put me in. So I was in the episode two onward. And I feel like a success in the comedy world in the sitcom world is often like kind of measured by whether or not people will dress up as you for Halloween. Oh, because I think Elaine is a popular Halloween costume. It is. It is. And it's an easy one to get together. Like it's just it's a dress and a blazer and a curly hair wig. God, I could I'd love to go back and fix that look. Yeah. I feel me. There's some early Leslie. No styles from Michael didn't put enough thought into that. Yeah. But we weren't really thinking about that. We were acting and we were in our care. No, but I actually remember because like when friends came out at some point when we were doing Seinfeld, not in the beginning, we sort of I can't remember what the years were. But and all those girls were so sexy. Yeah. And I remember thinking like, I fuck I should have been sexy. Yeah, I think that all the time. Seriously, I can't tell you how many I'm like, Oh, I forgot to be sexy. Totally. I shit. Oh my God. This was such a miss. And you reminded of it when you see other people are like, Oh, that's also something I could have tried to be. I seriously, yeah, like a mid-drip. Anything, anything. But that's why we love O'Lean. We love her because of that because she feels like us. She feels like someone we would know and love. Like she feels like our funniest friend. She feels like her like, you know, I mean, I think and she's so funny and it's just could it wouldn't work if O'Lean was paying attention to that. It never would work. It might have worked. That's true. She just went through like a really slutty sexy face. That's a slutty just coming in like in tight jeans and like how they all dressed. Yeah, I know. Anyway, because it's not welcome. I regret. But also you had two boys. Did you were you pregnant? Oh, right. Forgot that. Yeah, I had two babies during that time. So the sexy thing, although, you know, look to me more. I know, but I didn't even know about that. I didn't know about like, you know, going like that with your big tummy and looking hot. I just, you know, I was just wearing huge like picnic tablecloths. Yeah, but that style is back now, you know, 90s are back. Listen, if anybody in America is listening to this, please don't do the 90s again. I'm going to disagree with you. Okay, well, you're wrong and I'm right. No. And so just leave it at that. You're being triggered. But I'm telling you 90s like that, the, the floral with the like a chunky shoe and a tight and a blazer, fucking jackpot. Like you pass you and Jen Aniston, when you look at pictures like Rachel and in a lane, everybody's dressing like that now. And I don't know what to say. I'm just so fucking sorry. I really, I really, really am. But I will tell you one thing and I've told this story before. But when I was pregnant with Charlie with my second son and I was really pregnant and I was about five or six months and I got pretty big. And Jerry comes up to me and he says, Hey, we got an idea in the right. Oh, no. And he said, um, how about this idea? How about a lane just gets fat? Incredible. What an idea? What an idea, Jerry. So I burst into tears. Of course. And of course, I will say the following though in retrospect, it might have been great. It might have been funny. It's a funny idea. It's a funny idea. And it's a funny idea. And it was a big tummy and you're like putting a belt on it and you're pretending you're not putting it. You're just getting fat. But when you're not feeling in your own body, it's it's like it didn't, it didn't, it didn't work. I remember on Parks and Rec, I had been pregnant on twice on that show too. Uh-huh. And sorry, I had started when I had just given birth for my first kid and then I got pregnant with Abel, my youngest a few years later. And I remember my character Leslie was going to become pregnant on the show. And I said, I did some version of like bursting into tears where I said, I cannot be fake pregnant. I've just been really pregnant on both SNL and Parks and Rec. I've been genuinely pregnant and I can't you can't make me now wear a fake stomach. Oh, so it was always like after you did. After you gave birth, they were like, let's strap that belly right back on. And I was like, no, no, no. Well, how about this? How about after I gave birth to Charlie and I'm picking up our, our, my other son, Henry from like camp and I'm picking him up and this mom comes up to me. She goes, oh, when are you two? Yeah, no. You're the greatest kids. Oh, thank you. Thank you. And they're such talented boys and really nice men. They're men. They're talented men. They're still my boys. Yeah. And I love your relationship with Brad. Who's a wonderful person. Yeah. And you guys are like a really beautiful example of a loving, funny, supportive marriage with two very talented people and your FYI, we're separating getting divorced. I'm just going to announce it here. Yeah, I just thought this is the time I mean you brought it up. I might as well. Well, you know what? Good. Come easy go. And I worked with your son, Charlie on on Moxie. I've filmed that I made and he was a total doll. You know what? I have to tell you something about that. That was the first professional job he ever had was you gave him that job in Moxie. And I am so grateful to you for that. Not because you gave him the job course. Yes. But because I'm so grateful because you're a good person and he didn't have an experience with a jerk of which there are so many. Yeah. And it was very informative to him. So I just want you to know that for real. And this is totally me telling you. Thank you. And even though I'm actually I'm tearing up, but it really I really mean it. I love him. I love him. He's such a nice kid and talented. Okay. So we talked about time, Feld, eventers of old Christine, incredible show, Carrie Lizer, love. She's your kind of person. She is an incredible show runner. You've worked with great show runners. Yes. I have worked with great show runners. Armando Aynucci who's creator of VEEP. How did did that part was that part written for you? Ish. Yes. I would say I mean, initially no. I just heard about the concept that you know unhappy vice president. And then I was like, ding ding ding. And then I met with him and then he started to ride it after that. Yeah. Because I loved the idea. And I loved his work. I mean, Julia, yes, that show. That show was so much fun to do. I have to say I still miss it. Yeah. Do you miss doing parts? I miss the people. Yeah. I miss the people a lot. I mean, I have a lot of them on here because I miss them so much. I miss I miss it. It felt like and it feels that way with VEEP too. Like the chemistry of the people, the funniness of like the laughing all day. All day. So we do a thing on the podcast where we have people come on before our guest and talk well behind our guests back. Talk well. Yes, you've not listened to this podcast. Let me explain something to you. You called me to do something for Ina Garmin, but you didn't say talk well. Yes, I did. No, you didn't. I did too. No, you said come up with some questions for her. But I'm not talking well. I introduced you. I said that we're going to talk well behind Ina's back. Did I not know you didn't? I'm being gaslit by this enterprise whenever I'm never I am never talking to you again. And by the way, Ina, who was on our podcast, you you came on to do a incredible little, you know, segment in the front and Ina and you are buddies. Yes. And when I was talking to her, she was saying you guys were ready to go on a trip together. Yeah, we did. Please tell me about it. Tell me what you ate. Tell me just tell me what you ate. We went to she very generously took me and Brad to a restaurant in Paris called caviar caspia. And frankly, I don't even like caviar. What? Yeah. And it was delicious. Was everything did everything have caviar in it? Kind of. It was like caviar and potato and champagne. It was very. Yeah. Just exotic and it was in Paris. Oh, so you know, what else you need to know? She was so nice. She brought champagne and strawberry. She was the best. God, was I supposed to bring something? It's just weird that you did it. I guess like, I mean, if it is weird that you didn't. If my assistant well is listening to this right now in the green room, could you say how could you put some more photos on my phone? Please, actually, is getting in for me? What photos on my phone right now? And also, can you go and get Sam, if you're listening chocolates and quickly get some chips? Could you rip up the thank you note? I was about to send to Jill. So could you please just bring anything? Send flowers to myself because I'm clearly not going to be getting anything. Also, Amy Paul. I distinctly said that and the dots were only funny thing is that I could have been that I came out here wearing this blouse. And you did not see what she had on. Okay. Anyway. So I spoke to someone who knows you really well. And that is Tony. Oh, my Tony. I know. Tell me about. Tell me how much you love Tony. I love Tony. He's the best. He is the greatest guy. What do you love about him? What's so great about Tony? He is deeply funny. Yeah. Like deeply funny. He is profoundly generous. He is incredibly neurotic. Perfect. He worries about everyone. Yeah. So if there's a group of people and somebody is off or not fitting in or having a hard time, he can only focus on that. Yeah. And which speaks to his kindness. Yeah. And I just would do anything to work with him again. I want to find a way to work with him again. You guys were so great together on that show. Everyone on Veepe was great. But Selena and Gary's relationship was very special. Very special. How would you sum it up when you explain it? Have you ever seen a like like a trellis with a plant growing throughout it? That's their relationship. Co-dependency to the max. Max. In measurement times a thousand. Yeah. That plant is not going to live without the trellis. And FYI, the trellis doesn't give a shit about the plant. Yeah. Like the trellis actually is like, could somebody cut this plant off me? Yeah. Like this plant might take me down. It also makes me look better. So we can stay. Yeah. I mean, the way it could matter for. It's really good because you're I mean, Selena was like also meant narcissist. Yes. And which by the way, couldn't be more fun to play. Oh, I bet. What was fun to play? Why was that fun? What did it allow? What did it allow you to play around with and do that you don't get to do in your real life? Playing her focus only on myself. Yeah. And. And and a paul that if anyone is not focused on me. Yeah. And take no responsibility for anything. Yes. Never apologize. Never apologize. It's always your fault. Your fault and your fault. She just never ever looked inward. Right. Ever. Yeah. She didn't know what that meant. Yeah. So that was fun. Well, Tony had a great sweet, of course, loving question. He loves you and adores you. And he his question was like very tender, just like Tony, but he was saying like what he loved about you as a parent, he watched you be the kind of parent that you are. And it really inspired him as a parent. And also he was very moved and is very moved by your relationship with your mom. And his question was what do you think your mom? Did right. What did she give you? What are you like happy that you got from your mom? It's such a sweet tender, such a tender question. I know. I mean, there are obviously many things that I got from my mother, including this wide jaw of mine. Scorges. But I would say that my mother is a very cute, intellectually curious person. And I think some of that has rubbed off on me. And also my mother has a very good sense of humor. When you were growing up, was she watching stuff that influenced you? I know a lot of comedy came from my mom like what my mom was watching. What did your mom watch? Well, Carol Burnett, Ronnie Python, SNL, like my parents had that on in the house. Did your mom watch that kind of stuff? Yeah. Well, yes. And I mean, I did there was a show on when I was little like really little like maybe two. And it was a show called Super Sales. Oh, yeah. And also Captain King Guru. Yes. And we used to watch that and howl. There was something and I think it was on Super Sales or maybe it's Captain Carey, where ping pong balls would fall down. And you know, when you're two, that's like drop dead funny. Yeah. No, you know, it's kind of the jack and the box kind of a joke. Yes. And we would start my memory is that she was laughing as hard as I was. My guess is that maybe she was laughing because I was laughing. Yeah. But yeah, but I remember sort of feeling like I was partnered with her in enjoying this extraordinarily funny ping pong bet. Yeah. Laughing does do that with our families. I mean, it's a, yeah, it's a binder binder. And also you learn a lot about somebody by what they laugh at totally. Like I know I learned, I learned, you know, I got, I don't think it was the first time we met. But when you came back to host SNL was a big deal for all of us who were on the cast at the time that you were there. Very excited. And we got to like spend some time together. And I remember being so pleased that we would laugh at the same thing. Like it felt like, oh, I just felt excited that we were enjoying the same things in the same way. Totally. Yeah. There was real immediate sympathy. I remember that very well because when we were, we were in the, we were, must have been rehearsal day or something and we were in eight age. And I was at the page station thing and you came up to me. You just went like this. You went, okay, run. And so I just ran and we just went running down the hall. I was just some dumb bit. But I thought, oh, I like this girl so much. We were just, you know, yeah. I'm out. Tell me if I'm wrong, but I think when you came back to host that year, you had a really good time. I had a ball. I had a ball. And by the way, if you can believe this speaking of male female things, I was the first female cast member to ever come back and host. Wow. Wow. See, Daisy. Yeah. And that was 2006 or something. Correct. Yeah. Yeah. And you were coming into a cast that was like, there was a lot of really strong, talented women performing together and it was a good vibe. At least that's what I was picking up on. It was the first time I really had fun doing the show. Yeah. I mean, what was so nice about hosting back then with you guys was to feel the female power that was evident and long over two. And so that is a good feeling. Yeah. Yeah. And that's why I like talking to these older women too. Anyway, I think it's pretty critical to have these conversations and to hear from these really interesting people. Well, I mean, Julia, you do that to me. You inspire me every time I see you engaging. Like I feel very inspired by you. Like I feel very like you, you turn on a switch for me often where I see you doing something and I'm like, right, right. That's the kind of engagement I'm supposed to be doing or like being reminded that I'm doing. Like you definitely do that for me. And you do that for me professionally too. I see the moves that you make professionally. I'm like, damn. So smart. So interesting. Like you are. I'm always looking to you. Oh, wow. That's so nice of you to say that really makes me feel good. Yeah, I really feel that way. I really appreciate that. Thanks, Amy. You're welcome. What a good hang this is. This is it. Okay. And then my last, I have two questions. One that's fun and one this little bit more serious. But like, what I take away from your show and what I take away from knowing you is like the incredible total joy and privilege it is to just get older. Like there's so many people that aren't here that want to be here. Like how great to be alive, basically like so great. And as we get older, it feels like adulting this term adulting. Like it just gets hard because you know the hard parts of life are the juiciest parts. Like the challenge parts that we have to get through are the that's the meat on the bone. It's just getting through can be rough. I know. And you've had a tough, you've had to get through illness, loss of your house, like, yes, loss of people in your life. Like it's not easy. And we all go through this. Like everybody listening knows what this feels like they have versions of it in their life. Grief grief. What is the thing that on the other side of certain types of grief you've like learned about yourself? What what has it made you? Because is it just as simple as like I'm happy I'm alive? No. Yeah, I know. Like you you shared you shared with the world when you were going when you were treating your cancer, your breast cancer and it was very helpful for a lot of people. It isn't something you needed to share. You did. Well, I had you know, I was kind of backed into a corner on that one because we had to shut our show down. I it's funny how that worked out because normally I would not have done that. Yeah, very private. Yeah. But because we had to shut the show down V at the time for a year, I had to say, you know, 250 people weren't going to be working or whatever it is. So right. So I had to make a public thing about it. But the good thing about doing that was that I did have this incredible experience of people reaching out to me asking me for you know, asking me about my experience going through the breast cancer. You know, for advice. And and I was able to help and there was something unbelievably comforting about being able to do that on the other side of this trauma. Right. There is a lot to be said in self soothing by soothing others. Yeah. You know, for real. I mean, it's a that's a and I don't mean to sound all polyannish. I actually think it's true. Yeah, I agree that like to be to be of service to others is the way to get yourself up out of the. The old rooms. Yeah, it's so true. Yeah. And then we need it's like we're in such short supply of it right now. And the other way that I think that and I think you're the same that takes me up from the basement. The elevator is laughing. Well, a hundred percent without it. You're dead. It's so true. Like you have to laugh. You have to laugh when it's the worst you have to. Those are my favorite laughs when it's very when everyone is you know, it's like church giggles basically like funeral laughs where like you have a someone who loves you enough to know they're going to take a swing here to get you up out and you have so many funny friends. Yeah. You must have had so many moments where things were dark for you and someone kind of scoops you up with a laugh. Oh, totally. Well, when I was actually when I was going through chemo and I had a lot of girlfriends come and shove into this tiny little room. I mean, like the size of this table and everybody was there and I was high as a kite and and and I was doing this thing called a cold cap. Oh, yeah. So it's a thing that they do that you can do if you're getting chemo if you choose and it's this ice cold thing you put on your head and it's supposed to help you not lose your hair. So I did that. So I had this huge like. Weirdly shaped turban on my head and you know, I'm kind of like that and everybody's around me making fun. And it was a dream dream dream dream dream dream. And at one point I remember I sent a bunch of my girlfriends out because I said I lost some was wait none of my clothes fit and so I was like I need you know, hi, I need new jeans. And so I sent everybody out. I don't know where they went and then it's on FaceTime and I'm telling them which ones to get it was fun. It was hilarious. Yeah, it really was. And what do you and I asked all my guests this what are you watching, listening, reading. What are you? What are you laughing at right now? Well, there is nothing I love more than those videos of either dogs like that one dog who keeps attacking an apple slice. Don't don't know it. Hold on. It's it is attacking an apple slice. He's just going bananas on top of a bed. How do we find that? We're you know what how we find it. Yeah, we type in dog attacking apple slice. I think it's his name is it's our phones are off. Remember, we're going to have to turn him back on. Mine isn't off. You never turned your phone off. Puppy shares apple slice. Now that seems too nice. Oh, here we go. Spud on Instagram. Okay. This dog is just attacking this piece of celery. This dog is a maniac. The dog is growling is the size of a rat. It looks and it is furious at this piece of food. And is bearing its teeth. I mean, it's scary. It's scary. But it's it's not going to hurt anybody. Oh, this is a strawberry. It's a war. Anyway, that makes me very happy. But do you do you watch a lot of videos, YouTube videos and like and I think what I I'm I love survivor. But let me just ask you something about. I also like amazing race. Okay, survivor and amazing race, those kinds of shows. Do you think you could do well on them? No, no, really? Is there a part when you watch it? Is there a part of you that you think like I this is what I would do? But you don't yes. Okay, what I would do is pretend to break my leg and get air back out. Have you watched alone? Yes, incredible. Incredible. Okay, let's talk about alone. So for people that don't know, I think it's on National Geographic Channel. Maybe his street channel. And it's just on Netflix. I mean, there's a 45,000 seasons of it and the 45,000. And I think we watched every episode during COVID. Yeah, fantastic. COVID show. And for those who don't know, the premises, 10 or 11 people are dropped somewhere. It always feels like Canada, but somewhere and they have to survive the elements and survive being alone and the psychology of how people figure out how to not only find food and shelter and outlast their competitors, but the psychology of what happens when people are alone is fascinating. I'm for sure would go crazy. Oh, but don't you think you would do on alone? Are you out of your mind better than a really you don't think you would do better than some of the other? Yeah, no, I wouldn't be able to get any food. I wouldn't be able to kill any of that. So that would be one problem. And then the other problem would be I don't think you'd be able to sleep because you know, they got bears up there. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. It's I mean, I don't know what head space you're in right now, but there's no way you're making it on alone. No way. I'm not saying I'm making it. I'm just saying I'm saying you're not making it one night. Not even one night. You're going to be too cold. You have to make my pride. My pride would do one night. I would. Okay, one night. Not really. But I love I love alone. I love it. I love it. Because I think it's an extraordinary challenge. Yeah, I think it's a legit, you know, and it's agree. And as a, you know, survivor, it's got all of these things in these games and so on, which is gobs of fun, but it's all fabricated. Yes. In this case, you've really got to stay alive. And you don't know when other people have peeled off. I don't they don't die, but they they they they tap out. Yes. How much do they win a million dollars, a million dollars? And what I love about the psychology of that show is the way because I relate is the way people start to give up before giving up. Oh, wait, talk about that. Because they start to talk and I just I love it because I recognize it, right? Which is when you start to talk yourself out of something, but you're not talking yourself out of it yet. But you're just playing around with the idea because it's such a mental game. You have to just take the highs and lows and like, right. But when people are like, yeah, it's just, you know, my family, I'm sure my family's missing me. Oh, yeah, it's always men, you know, being like, my wife is probably struggling. And you're like, oh, here you go. Yeah, like just a little day or two before I just thinking about that's right. I mean, I do want the money, but will my kid ever be ever have their third birthday again? You know, and you're like, here he goes. Get ready. Couple days or no, he's going to tap out like that kind of bubbly stuff. I love human behavior. And it's like, it's so good. I want to watch alone with you. And I want to watch the new jury do do with you. And oh, wait a minute. That would be fun. That would be fun. I would like to watch TV with you. Okay. I want to come over and I feel like getting in some kind of comfy situation with you and Brad get under some kind of not that way. Just no, I just get blankets and get blankets. I feel like there'd be a good snack like a chip, like a delicious salty chip. Yeah, but we need some yummy. We need some desserts happening. Are you sweet over savory? I like it all. Yeah, but I love sweets. Okay, I'm more more savory. So we can have sweet and a chip and some kind of chip. Okay. And we watch one of these shows and we I'm picturing it now. Have you ever had dill pickle chips? Yeah. Don't do it for you. Doesn't do it for me, but I love the idea of them. Oh, God, it's making my mouth water just talking about it. Get some of those. We'll get some of this, but you don't like them. We'll find something else. Do you like salt and vinegar? I enjoy salt and vinegar. Me too. Yeah, love that. Love it. And also I'm a basic Doritos bitch. Really? I know. Not a sponsor is now. Not after what you the face you just made. That's that's the slogan. I'm a Doritos basic Doritos bitch. Really? That's the question. I love you, Julia. Thank you for doing this. Thank you for having us. I love having you. Love having you. I knew it would be fun. I didn't know it would be this much fun. I can't wait till I reach 70 so I can come on your show. Yeah. Thank you so much, Julia. That was so fun. It's always so fun to get to be around you and laugh with you and do bits. And for this polar plunge. I just want to mention one of the guests on Julia's podcast, why is there than me who I just love and that is the author and Lamott. And if you're listening, I love you. And if you don't know and Lamott's work, she is a very prolific and successful author who's written books like operating instructions and bird by bird and tender mercies. Many many works of fiction, her latest book somehow thoughts on love is out and she's just a really candid, funny, deeply funny, tender, big thinker. And I don't know. I just love her and I hope I get to have her on this pod someday. Check out her podcast with Julia, check out Julia's podcast. Listen to podcasts. Podcasts are great. We love podcasts. Thanks. Bye. You've been listening to Good Hang. The executive producers for this show are Bill Simmons, Jenna Weiss-Berman and me, Amy Poler. The show is produced by the Ringer and PaperKite. For the Ringer, production by Jack Wilson, Kat Spalane, Kaya McMullen, and Alayezan Eres. For PaperKite, production by Sam Green, Joel Lovell, and Jenna Weiss-Berman. Original music by Amy Miles. All I ever wanted was a really good hang.